Volunteering, giving something back, big society... what do you do?

I'm very sorry but the Big Society thing is all my fault. I gave Callmedave the idea. Well, I'm pretty sure I did.

I live on a main road, and there are some grass verges on the pavement outside my house. I like to keep it all looking nice, so when we come to sell, people will think "That's the house we always think looks nice". The council make a right mess of trimming the verges and the hedges so I do them myself.

Way back in 1997, Cameron was standing for the Tories in Stafford, where I live. He got beat by a local Labour guy, but I'm pretty sure he must have been going past one day, seen me mowing the verge and thought "that's a good idea - if ever I'm in power I'll call it the "Big John Society". Obviously over the years he forgot the John bit, but never mind, I still know he named it after me.

I made no reference to the big society and don't need to. Thats why I tried to simplify it down for you, something you've obviously missed.

Lets just move on, your missing the point entirely.

I am not angry and why do you think that by constantly patronising me* [and others] that we are going to be convinced by your argument? I mean just how stupid are you?

May be you should all start a thread titled

"Why the governments big society scheme is a bunch of arse" because we seem to be talking about 2 separate things.

Perhaps you could just read this thread title and see why it may be relevant to mention Big Society in a thread about volunteering and big society.. or am I just being stuid again?
* I am impressed by your patronise per line quota though. Sadly when removed there is nothing left though

I have been Chair of the board of trustees in a large urban Citizens Advice Bureau for the last 9 years. I also provide training on a monthly basis to groups of young people looking to set up in business as part of the Prince's Trust Business Development programme.

Prior to volunteering with the CAB I was trustee and chair of a organisation providing accommodation, support and training for young people at risk of homelessness for 4 years. And in the past I have done volunteering work for both Oxfam and Greenpeace.

I have done all of this before the concept of "Big Society" was even invented, and the current debates about Big Society are in my view a huge distraction from the work that myself and many others on here do voluntarily and often with little thanks.

Citizens Advice Bureaux for example have existed for decades providing a valuable and independent service, largely delivered by trained volunteer advisers, to anyone with a problem relating to welfare benefits, debt and money advice, employment, immigration, family and consumer issues. How many threads on here suggest visiting you local CAB as a solution.

If anything "Big Society" is detracting from the work that thousands of volunteer led organisations have been successfully doing for years.

A few years back I looked at a few different volunteering options like National Park Ranger but the Lakes & Dales are very oversubscribed. So I started helping out at a local independent animal sanctuary walking dogs for a few hours most Sunday mornings. I top this up by fundraising for them and have sponsored a dog pen for the last three years now.

Coach and welfare officer at our kids trampoline club. Started helping out because wife broke her ankle (she is the volunteer co-ordinator) on a temporary basis and sort of got sucked in. Sometimes I enjoy it and sometimes its a pain but you gotta support your kids. It feels like we are a cheap version of child care sometimes.

If only everyone volunteer to be less greedy the world would be a slightly better to live in.

Where's my bank bonus as I am the CEO .... I need a pay rise ... oh no ... I overworked I need more pay ... I am the boss so I am entitled to more pay ... I am working hard so more pay ... oh look they got pay rise so I need pay rise too ... oh no ... we need to increase the price of the goods because there is inflation ... oh no ... our organisational profit has dropped to £5 Billion we need to cut cost and have pay cut. Oh look he got an iPad I want one too ...

I have over the years helped build, maintain and act as service crew for mates who did a bit of car rallying. Set out courses and marshaled on many an RAC, Scottish and local rally.
I have been on various committees for car, squash, cycle clubs and the kids school board. Helped start and run a swimming club at the kids school for around 16yrs and followed that up be assisting at special needs sessions.
Currently involved with local Go-Ride club and helping LEA active schools deliver cycling skills and proficiency sessions.
Managed to pick up qualis along the way to do all of that. The only other qualis I have are my trade ones, managed to flunk all my school stuff Gaining my swimming teachers award was possibly one of the most rewarding things I have done bar having my 2 kids
Could quite easily make money by teaching swimming or getting paid by LEA, the offer is there but I have declined. They do pay for the courses tho

- Trustee of local Headway group
- Committee member of UK Acquired Brain Injury Forum (UKABIF) with responsibility for developing regional groups.

.........but the 'big society' notion is a pile of crap. We do these things because we believe in them and because they need to be done, but we need the state to provide the backdrop and the infrastructure of basic services. Without these we're frankly pissing in the wind. Only millionaires like Dave and Georgie boy could be so blinkered as to think otherwise - but then we know their real agenda: snip snip snip at the public sector, give every chance to private business, because without private enterprise, how could they get so rich???

Volunteer crew member of the RNLI. Something i wanted to do since i left school but working away in the catering industry wouldn't permit time wise.Now in an office where i'm allowed to drop tools (i.e. a pen!)and get to the boat for shouts. Hugely rewarding, get to meet a great group of people and use the training you get with them in day-to-day life.... especially 1st aid of late!!

everything counts.
southern yeti, you're right in one respect my wife chose to be a childrens nurse. me on the other hand found myself out of work and being big and ugly i can scare kids fairly easily. but then i found i love the job dearly. i have a strict policy at work of not giving to sponsored this that and the other but then i would never ask them to sponsor me. we have a charity every year that we give to, we change it every year and if they ask for more then we don't give to them again!
it's all so personal, society wouldn't work without people giving something for free but then i think if certain people do their job to the best of their ability then they contribute to society anyway.
big old can of worms really!

Suprised nobody has mentioned being a school governor. At this moment of time its a very important role in holding heads and local authorities to account as well as planning the future quality of schools. Have done it for over 15 years now. First as influence for my own children's education, then out of professional interest and now as a way of safegaurding education in a rural area when closure is a possibility. I like the concept of putting something back but this lot are trying to get something for nothing.

At the moment its taking me 20 plus hours a week as chairman (person!!!) and that isn't sustainable. I'm semi unemployed/retired so can give the time but how it could be done by somebody in full time work is beyond me. It's like an unpaid job. The government (past and present) have heaped responsibilities on governors (hiring and firing heads, deciding who to make redundant when budgets and pupil numbers fall) without any recognition.

Cameron's crew are trying to push groups to take responsibilities that are sometimes beyond them, and subject to inspections that will criticise them for not providing leadership!

That all sounds a bit grim reading it back, but I enjoy the work and do encourage sensiant beings (are there any on here!?!!) to get involved.

When I worked in Shitehall it was interesting how departments would always support anything if it was positive or successfull in a local area.

I was at a bit of a lul in my life, between jobs, so I thought I'd try giving back to society. I searched and searched for something suitable and eventually found an opening working on a rifenery in the middle east. Oh no, hang on a minute........

TSY - yes and yes. There are catagories of governors. Parent, teacher, community and those appointed by the LA or sponsor. If you have particular expertise (anything the Full Governing Body sees as relevant) they can even coopt you as an asscociate member. Talk to your school or governor services at the council. Age is irrelivent. Had ex sixth formers and one bloke in his 70s. Both were good sound people.